Device for Preventing Breaking of Eggs in Egg Carton

ABSTRACT

A device for protecting eggs in an egg carton from breaking has an element surrounding an egg carton with eggs and having an inner chamber for receiving the egg carton with eggs in it, with a size corresponding to an outer size of the egg carton with eggs, and the element has an impact-absorbing property such that when the egg carton with eggs is located in the inner chamber of the element and is subjected to an outside impact, the element absorbs the impact and the eggs in the egg carton do not break.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for protecting eggs in an egg carton from breaking.

It is well known that when buyers buy eggs in egg cartons, they take the cartons with eggs from shelves and put them into shopping carts, then the take the cartons with eggs from the shopping carts and place them on a counter to be scanned by a cashier, then put the egg cartons with eggs back into the shopping carts, outside of a store remove the shopping bags with the egg cartons from the shopping carts and place them into their cars. Upon reaching home, the buyers remove the shopping bags with the egg cartons from the cars and take them home, etc. During the above described multiple operations if an egg carton with eggs is dropped, the eggs inside the carton break. This phenomenon is so wide spread, that every buyer from millions and millions of buyer experienced breaking of eggs in egg cartons.

It is therefore clearly desirable to provide such a device which can prevent breaking of eggs in egg cartons at least in the above mentioned situations or which can at least reduce a probability of its happening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for protecting eggs in an egg carton from breaking, which ensures that the eggs in an egg carton will not break or at least reduce a probability of breaking the eggs in the egg carton.

In keeping with these objects and with other which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in a device for protecting eggs in an egg carton from breaking, which has an element configured to surround an egg carton with eggs and having an inner chamber or receiving the egg carton with eggs in it, the inner chamber has a size substantially corresponding to an outer size of he egg carton with eggs, and the element has an impact-absorbing property such that when the eggs carton with the eggs is located in the inner chamber of the element and is subjected to an outside impact, the element absorbs the impact and the eggs in the egg carton do not break.

In other words, when the egg carton with eggs is accommodated in the inner chamber of the device in accordance with the present invention, and the device with the egg carton is hit against any rigid surface or dropped on a floor, the eggs inside the carton will not break.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the element has a wall which surrounds the inner chamber and is composed of a material which has the impact-absorbing property. For this purpose, for example, the wall can have a thickness such that with the impact-absorbing material of the wall of the element and the thickness of the wall of the element, the eggs in the egg carton do not break when the egg carton with the eggs, located in the inner chamber of the element is subjected to the outside impact.

In accordance with a further feature of the present invention in the invention the element can have a wall which surrounds the inner chamber and is composed of two layers located over one another. One of the layers of the wall of the element can be composed of a soft material, while another of the walls of the element can be composed of a corrugated material.

In this embodiment the one layer of the wall element composed of as soft material can be an inner layer, while the other layer of the wall element composed of a corrugated material can be an outer layer as considered in a direction transverse to a direction of elongation of the element. The outer layer of corrugated material of the wall of the element can be composed of a plurality of corrugated strips which are spaced from one another in a direction of elongation of the element.

In accordance with still a further feature of the present invention the element can have a a wall which surrounds the inner chamber and has the impact-absorbing property an interior layer provided on an interior surface of the wall of the element and facing toward the inner chamber. The interior layer can have a frictional characteristic which is lower than a frictional characteristic of the wall of the element so as to reduce friction between the wall of the element and the egg carton with eggs when the carton with eggs moves relative to the wall during its introduction into the inner chamber and withdrawal from the inner chamber.

While the inventive device for protecting eggs in an egg carton from breaking has the wall which surrounds the inner chamber and has an impact-absorbing property, it can also have an exterior layer provided on an exterior surface of the wall facing away from the inner chamber and protecting the device from outside.

In the inventive device the wall of the element which surrounds the inner chamber can have an opening provided at least on one side as considered in a longitudinal direction of the element and configured for inserting the egg carton with eggs into the inner chamber and withdrawing the egg carton with eggs from the inner chamber therethrough. Closing means can be provided for closing and opening the opening of the wall of the element to allow the inserting of the carton with eggs into the inner chamber and the withdrawing of the carton with eggs from the inner chamber through the opening of the wall of the element when the opening is closed.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention a handle can be provided in the element for carrying the device with the egg carton with eggs accommodated in the inner chamber of the element during transportation of the device by a user. The handle can be provided on one end of the element as considered in its longitudinal direction.

In a further embodiment of the present invention the inventive device can be provided with reducing means for reducing a size of the inner chamber as considered in a direction which is transverse to the longitudinal direction. The reducing means can include a least one member acting on the wall from outside inwardly toward the inner chamber as considered in the transverse direction.

The inventive device can also include adjusting means for adjusting a length of the wall and thereby a length of the inner chamber to adjust it to a length of the egg carton with eggs. The adjusting means can include the substantially bendable wall of the element so that one longitudinal portion of the wall upon bending can be extended over a remaining longitudinal portion of the wall, and attaching means for attaching the one longitudinal portion of the wall of the element to the remaining portion of the wall of the element upon the bending and extending the former over the latter.

The novel features of the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself however both as to its construction and its manner of operation will be best understood from the following description of the preferred embodiments which is accompanied by the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing an egg carton with eggs in it;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a device for protecting eggs in an egg carton from breaking;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the inventive device in accordance with a further embodiment;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are two end views of the inventive device before and after its inner chamber narrowing

FIG. 6 is a view showing shortening of the inner chamber of the inventive device;

FIGS. 7-10 are views corresponding to views of FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 6 for a further embodiment of the device;

FIGS. 11-13 are a longitudinal cross section, a transverse cross section and a side view of the device in accordance with still another embodiment

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A device in accordance with the present invention is used for preventing breaking of eggs 1 in an egg carton 2 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the inventive device has a hollow element 3 with a wall 4 which surrounds an inner chamber 5 for receiving the egg carton 2 with the eggs 1. The inner chamber 5 has a size which substantially corresponds to a size of the egg carton 2 so that the egg carton 2 with the eggs 1 can be introduced into the inner chamber 5 and held there.

The element 3 of the device or more particularly its wall 3 has an impact-absorbing property so that when the egg carton 2 with the eggs 1 is inside the inner chamber 5 and the device is subjected to an impact, for example hit against a surface, dropped on a floor, etc, the eggs 1 in the egg carton 2 do not break. For this purpose the material of the wall 4 and the thickness of the wall 4 are selected to provide the above mentioned impact-absorbing property. The wall 4 can be composed, for example, of a soft or springy plastic material, such as a foam plastic material, and the like.

As can be seen from FIG. 2 the element 2 has an opening 6 leading to the inner chamber 5 only on one end of the wall 4 as considered in a longitudinal direction of the element 3. However the element 3 can be open also on both its longitudinal ends. The opening is used to introduce the egg carton 2 with the eggs 1 into the inner chamber 5 and to withdraw it from the latter.

FIG. 3 shows closing means for closing and opening of the opening 6. The closing means can include a strip 7 providing with a first engaging member 8 which is engageable with a second engaging member 9 fixed on an outer surface of the wall 4 of the element 3. When the strip 7 is bent as shown in this Fig. and the engaging elements 8 and 9 engage each other, to form for example a VELCRO connection, the opening 6 is closed as shown in broken lines in FIG. 4.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show adjusting means for reducing the inner size of the inner chamber 5 as considered in a transverse direction, so the inner surface of the wall 4 tightly embraces the egg carton 2 with eggs 1 accommodated in the inner chamber. The transverse size reducing means can include for example two strips 10 and 11 attached to the wall 4. When necessary, the strips 10 and 11 can be pulled toward one another to squeeze the wall 4 transversely inwardly and thereby to reduce the inner transverse size of the inner chamber 4, and then tied together.

FIG. 6 shows means for adjusting a longitudinal length of the inner chamber 5 so that it can relatively snugly accommodate longer egg cartons with eggs or shorter egg cartons with eggs. The adjusting means include one longitudinal portion 12 which can be bent so as to extend over a remaining longitudinal portion 13 of the wall portion, to reduce the length of the inner chamber 5, for accommodating a shorter egg carton with eggs. The portions 12 and 13 can be provided with engaging means 14 and 15 which engage with one another to form for example a VELCRO connection and to thereby fix the position of the portions 12 and 13 relative to one another.

A handle 16 can be attached to the element 3 for example at one of its longitudinal ends to facilitate carrying the inventive device with the egg carton 2 with eggs 1 in it during transportation by a user.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-10 the device for preventing breaking of eggs in an egg carton, in accordance with another embodiment, in addition to the impact-absorbing well 4 has an outer covering layer 16, which can be formed for example as a bag outwardly surrounding the wall 4 of the element 3. The device of this embodiment can have components which are similar to the components of the first embodiment and are identified with the same reference numerals.

FIGS. 11-13 show a further embodiment of the present invention. The device in accordance with this embodiment has an element 21 provided with a wall 22 which surrounds an inner chamber 23 for receiving the egg carton 2 with the eggs 1. The wall 23 includes two layers with an inner layer 24 and an outer layer 25. The inner layer 24 can be composed of a soft material for example a foam plastic material, which the outer layer 25 is composed of a corrugated material. The outer layer 25 can be formed by several corrugated strips 26 which surround the inner layer 24 and are spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction. The layers 24 and 25 together form the wall 23 which has impact-absorbing properties.

The device further has an exterior layer 27 which can be formed as a bag provided with a handle. the device further has an interior layer 28 facing the inner chamber 23. The inner surface of the interior layer 28 can have higher frictional characteristic than the frictional characteristic of the layer 24, to facilitate insertion of the egg carton with eggs into the inner chamber 23 and withdrawal from the inner chamber with a reduced friction. The exterior layer 27 can be formed as an outer lining of the outer layer 25, while the interior layer 28 can be formed as an interior lining of the inner layer 24.

The inner layer 24 can be soft or cushioning, while the corrugated layer 25 can be springy due to a plurality of corrugations, so that together they form the wall 23 which possesses impact-absorbing property to prevent breaking of eggs in the egg carton in response to an impact applied to the device.

The present invention is not limited to the details shown since further modifications and structural changes are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The handle is shown in the drawings as attached to the right end of the device. It is to be understood however that the handle, instead, can be attached to the left end of the device, or two handles can be attached to both ends of the device. Also the handle can be attached to the top of device exclusively, or in addition to the handles attached to the ends of the device. As a result, the device can be held vertically, or horizontally, or both.

Also other modifications are possible as well. What is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in particular in the appended claims. 

1. A device for protecting eggs in an egg carton from breaking, comprising an element configured to surround an egg carton with eggs and having an inner chamber for receiving the egg carton with eggs in it, wherein said inner chamber has a size substantially corresponding to an outer size of the egg carton with eggs, and wherein said element has an impact-absorbing property such that when the egg carton with eggs is located in the inner chamber of the element and is subjected to an outside impact, the element absorbs the impact and the eggs in the egg carton do not break.
 2. A device for protecting eggs in an egg carton from breaking as defined in claim 1, wherein the element has a wall which surrounds the inner chamber and is composed of a material which has the impact-absorbing property.
 3. A device for protecting eggs in an egg carton from breaking as defined in claim 2, wherein the wall has a thickness such that with the impact-absorbing material of the wall of the element and the thickness of the wall of the element, the eggs in the egg carton do not break when the egg carton with the eggs, located in the inner chamber of the element is subjected to the outside impact.
 4. A device for protecting eggs in an egg carton from breaking as defined in claim 1, wherein the element has a wall which surrounds the inner chamber and is composed of two layers located over one another as considered in a transverse direction of the wall element.
 5. A device for protecting eggs in an egg carton from breaking as defined in claim 6, wherein one of the layers of the wall of the element is composed of a soft material, while another of the walls of the element is composed of a corrugated material.
 6. A device for protecting eggs in an egg carton from breaking as defined in claim 5, wherein the one layer of the wall element composed of a soft material is an inner layer, while the other layer of the wall element composed of a corrugated material is an outer layer as considered in a direction transverse to a direction of elongation of the element.
 7. A device for protecting eggs in an egg cartoon from breaking as defined in claim 5, wherein the layer of corrugated material of the wall of the element is composed of a plurality of corrugated strips which are spaced from one another in a direction of elongation of the element.
 8. A device for protecting eggs in an egg carton from breaking as defined in claim 1, wherein the the element has a wall which surrounds the inner chamber and has the impact-absorbing property, and an interior layer provided on an interior surface of the well of the element and facing toward the inner chamber.
 9. A device for protecting eggs in an egg carton from breaking as defined in claim 8, wherein the interior layer has a frictional characteristic which is lower than a frictional characteristic of the wall of the element so as to reduce friction between the wall of the element and the carton with eggs when the carton with eggs moves relative to the wall during its introduction into the inner chamber and withdrawal from the inner chamber.
 10. A device for protecting eggs in an egg carton from breaking as defined in claim 1, wherein the element has a wall which surrounds the inner chamber and has an impact-absorbing property, and an exterior layer provided on an exterior surface of the wall facing away from the inner chamber.
 11. A device for protecting eggs in an egg carton from breaking as defined in claim 1, wherein the element has a wall which surrounds the inner chamber and has an opening at least at on one side as considered in a longitudinal direction of the element and configured for inserting the egg carton with eggs into the inner chamber and withdrawing the egg carton with eggs from the inner chamber therethrough.
 12. A device for protecting eggs in an egg carton from breaking as defined in claim 11, further comprising means for closing and opening the opening of the wall of the element to allow the inserting of the carton with eggs into the inner chamber and the withdrawing of the carton with eggs from the inner chamber through the opening of the wall of the element when the opening is closed.
 13. A device for protecting eggs in an egg carton from breaking as defined in claim 1, further comprising a handle provided on the element for carrying the device with the egg carton with eggs accommodated in the inner chamber of the element during transportation of the device by a user.
 14. A device for protecting eggs in an egg carton from breaking as defined in claim 14, wherein the element is elongated in an direction of elongation and has two ends spaced from one another in the direction of elongation, and wherein the handle is provided on one of the ends of the element.
 15. A device for protecting eggs in an egg carton from breaking as defined in claim 1, wherein the element has a wall which surrounds the inner chamber and is elongated in a longitudinal direction, further comprising reducing means for reducing a size of the inner chamber as considered in a direction which is transverse to the longitudinal direction.
 16. A device for protecting eggs in an egg carton from breaking as defined in claim 15, wherein the reducing means for reducing a size of the inner chamber in the transverse direction include at least one member acting on the wall from outside inwardly toward the inner chamber as considered in the transverse direction.
 17. A device for protecting eggs in an egg cartoon from breaking as defined in claim 1, wherein the element has a wall which surrounds the inner chamber and is elongated in a longitudinal direction, further comprising adjusting means for adjusting a length of the wall and thereby a length of the inner chamber to adjust it to a length of the egg carton with eggs.
 18. A device for protecting eggs in an egg carton from breaking as defined in claim 1, wherein wherein the wall of the element is substantially bendable so that one longitudinal portion of the wall upon bending can be extended over a remaining longitudinal portion of the wall, and wherein the adjusting means for adjusting include attaching means for attaching the one longitudinal portion of the wall of the element to the remaining portion of the wall of the element upon the bending and extending the former over the latter. 